Anorexia Nervosa, or simply anorexia, is a severe mental illness that can become life-threatening without timely recognition and treatment intervention. Despite the serious nature of this disorder, anorexia is often glamorized and romanticized in the media. While the media may not be responsible for the development of an eating disorder, it can perpetuate or worsen a disorder that is already present.
by: Amanda Nussbaum
Many of us spend at least a small portion of our day scrolling through our phones, watching TV or movies, or reading magazines. This constant exposure to mindless entertainment, photoshopped celebrities, and false news can have a negative impact on our physical, emotional, and mental health. The media often focuses on ratings and making a profit rather than giving the full, unedited truth. Many people believe that celebrities in the “spotlight” are happy, successful, and beautiful, which may lead some to believe that if they look or act similar to those celebrities, then they will be happy, successful, and beautiful too.
The false portrayal of public figures is similar to how mental health disorders are often presented in the media. Eating disorders, diets, and beauty products tend to be glamorized. For example, the media leads people to associate being thin with beauty and emphasizes being attractive and enticing by highlighting certain body types or looks. This kind of content can be triggering and harm a person’s body image. If viewers are under the belief that thinness equals beauty, they may feel negatively about themselves if they do not look like the people they see in movies, magazines, or on social media.
The media often portrays anorexia in an unrealistic way, inaccurately depicting the reality of living with and recovering from an eating disorder. The media also makes anorexia appear simply as a diet or an extreme approach to weight loss, when, in fact, it is a serious mental health disorder that is detrimental to one’s health.
Movies that attempt to depict anorexia and eating disorders can be controversial because their messages may cause more harm than awareness. For instance, in June 2017, Netflix released its original movie To the Bone, which involves a teenage girl struggling with anorexia. Lily Collins, who plays the main character, Ellen, (and who has been open about her own struggles with an eating disorder) was criticized for losing weight for the movie and acted as “thinspiration”, which made viewers believe that was what someone should look like. To the Bone has received a lot of reproval for romanticizing eating disorders and spreading harmful information to viewers.
Like To The Bone, other films often portray those with eating disorders to be young, thin, caucasian women. Two such movies — a 2015 Lifetime movie about a young dancer with anorexia, called Starving in Suburbia, and a 2007 NBC film, Perfect Body, which told the story of a gymnast who developed bulimia — emphasize that only petite girls who live comfortably develop eating disorders. In reality, both men and women with different backgrounds and body types struggle with eating disorders.
Eating disorder experts believe that movies may not accurately portray eating disorders because eating disorders are frightening, crippling, and traumatic, which the media often shies away from showcasing. Rather, the media tends to value happy endings even if the reality of an eating disorder is not happy. In an episode of the TV show Full House, one of the show’s main characters, DJ Tanner, over-exercised and did not eat so she could lose a few pounds. DJ eventually stopped this behavior after talking with her family. Although in real life talking with family can be helpful, it usually would not be enough to make someone stop restricting or exercising right away like it did in this television show.
Magazines also inaccurately portray eating disorders by showing models who are very thin and have their images edited. Young girls are two to three times more likely to try a diet after reading a magazine. One study showed that 69% of girls between 5th and 12th grade believe that magazine photos influence what they think the optimal body shape is. In addition, almost half of these girls want to diet and lose weight after seeing magazine pictures. Magazines, along with online websites and social media that highlight thin women with similar physical features, can lead people to be unhappy with their body and put them at risk for developing an eating disorder.
In recent years, celebrities have helped make mental health less of a taboo subject and have shown that the media does not always accurately portray eating disorders. Some public figures, like Troian Bellisario, Hillary Duff, Shawn Johnson, Ke$ha, Demi Lovato, Chloe Lukaskiak, Zayn Malik, Ed Sheeran, Gabourey Sidibe, and Taylor Swift have talked on social media or in interviews about their own personal struggles with eating disorders. Some of these celebrities have produced documentaries or written books that discuss eating disorders and how they personally affected them.
Just as people can follow public figures who accurately portray anorexia in the media, it is likewise as important to avoid media outlets that do not depict eating disorders accurately. The National Eating Disorders Association recognizes that it is beneficial to limit the amount of time people spend engaging with media, to follow only media platforms and accounts that promote body acceptance, and to encourage body diversity and natural, unedited beauty. What we see online or on a TV or movie screen is what the media wants us to see — which may not always be true. Melissa A. Fabello, an eating disorder writer and body image expert, said, “When we are continually given the same story over and over again, we start to believe that it’s the only story — and that leaves more marginalized experiences invisible.” It is important to remember that even if a mental health disorder, like anorexia, is not accurately portrayed, it does not make anyone’s struggles or feelings less valid or important.
At BALANCE eating disorder treatment center, our compassionate, highly skilled team of clinicians is trained in diagnosing and treating the spectrum of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and other disordered eating behaviors and body image issues. Click the button below to learn about our individualized programs & services.
Looking for eating disorder treatment programs or services in the New York City area? Learn more about our options at BALANCE eating disorder treatment center here or contact us here.
This post was written by BALANCE Blog Intern, Amanda Nussbaum.
Amanda is a recent graduate of Ramapo College, where she majored in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. She enjoys being creative, writing, and editing videos, and is passionate about health, wellness, and lifestyle. Throughout college, Amanda volunteered with the Girls on the Run organization, which helps young girls develop a positive self-esteem. She also mentored a young girl through Ramapo College’s chapter of Big Brother, Big Sister. Amanda’s involvement in these organizations helped her realize that she wants to work for a company that has an impact on others, while still being creative with marketing. In the future, Amanda hopes to work in the marketing or communications department of an organization that focuses on teenagers and young adults, and their health and self-confidence. She enjoys contributing to the BALANCE blog!
